First-hand advice from a Millenial financial planner for the average Canadian who wants to buy a home and save for retirement in expensive cities like Vancouver and Toronto. If you are living on an average Canadian income of $80,000, how can you afford to buy a home and start saving for retirement, even in a city like Vancouver with the richest real estate in the country? This is the question that every average Canadian is asking these days, especially in Vancouver where the most homely bungalow is selling for well over $1 million.

Vancouver-based financial planner Christine Conway shows you how to do it. Speaking from her own experience living in Vancouver and with the expertise of a certified financial planner, Conway lays out a practical plan that average a Canadian can follow. The key is to pay down debt quickly, and avoid mounting interest payments that can exceed the original value of the home.

This book is crammed with useful tips for anyone who feels pinched as they try to handle mortgages and credit card payments. Among other things, Conway suggests people should spend 15 minutes a week on their budget, pre-pay mortgage payments, and pay off the most expensive debts.

Christine Conway is a 32-year-old financial planner and partner at Braun Financial Services in Vancouver.

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